Apparatus for the continuous production by synthesis of hydrogen peroxid.



W. WEBER.

APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION BY SYNTHESIS OF HYDROGENPEROXID.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC.5, 1914- Wfinesses: Invenlur Patented June 22,1915.

WALTER WEBER, 0F DUSSELDORF, GERMANY, ASSIG-NOR TO THE FIRM OF HENKEL &CIE., OF DUSSELDORF, GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION BY SYNTHESIS OF HYDROGENPEROXID.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented June 22, 1915.

Application filed December 5, 1914. Serial No. 8%,704.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WALTER WVEBER, citizen ofthe German Empire, residing at Dusseldorf, Germany, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in an Apparatus for-the ContinuousProduction by Synthesis of Hydrogen Peroxid, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to apparatus for the continuous production, bysynthesis, of hydrogen peroxid. V

In a former application for Letters Patent of the United States, filedJune 16, 1913, Serial No. 774053, and for which a patent was issued onthe thirtieth day of September, 1913, numbered 1,074,549, an apparatushas been described which consists of a tubular anode inclosed within atube adapted to stand high pressure and surrounding the cathode, allthese parts being separated from each other by tubular diaphragms.

In using the aforesaid apparatus for the production of hydrogen peroxidon a commercial scale there arose the difficulty that it was notpossible to make the electrolyte pass through it several timesso as toincrease its percentage of peroxid. Such a mode of operation was out ofquestion for the simple reason that the hydrogen peroxid formed in thefirst operation would, if introduced into the apparatus anew, passalsothrough the anode chamber and, in passing therethrough, be decomposedinstantaneously. For this same reason it proved impossible also toconnect a plurality of such apparatus in series inorder to graduallyincrease the percentage of hydrogen peroxid. Although the concentrationof about three per cent. obtainable in an apparatus of this kind issufficiently high for most technical purposes, a higher concentration isvery desirable indeed, but it is impossible to obtain it except bycausin the electrolyte to circulate with1n a sing e apparatus or to passthrough a series of apparatus connected with each other. Anotherdraw-back connected with the old device is the impossibility of coolingthe anode itself although" considering the current density preferablyused such a cooling would greatly contribute to an increase in output.

The improved apparatus described in the present specification offers theadvantage of avoiding all the draw-backs aforesaid.

According to the present invention the inner surface of a tubeconsisting of a suitable metal adapted to withstand high pressure iscoated with a suitable electrode material serving as cathode, while theanode covered with a suitable tubular diaphragm is arranged in themiddle axis of the tube aforesaid. This arrangement of parts ren- (letsit possible to either cause the electrolyte to circulate within theapparatus by aid of a pump, or else to pass through a plurality of suchdevices, one after the other without passing through the anode chamber,so that the hydrogen peroxid formed is not decomposed again. It isfurther possible to effect an electrical connection of a plurality ofsuch apparatus in series so as to cause the electrical current to passthrough one after the other, in order to diminish the costs for thegenerator and the conductors. Moreover the metallic tube being easilyinclosed within a water jacket a very effective cooling of the wholecathode is rendered possible. The surface of the cathode employed isexceedingly great as compared with the cathode substance.

The drawings show in section the form of my new apparatus at presentpreferred by me. o

A tube A of a suitable metal having walls 2% to 3 in. thick is coatedinwardly with a thin layer of cathode substance. It is closed at bothends by screw-caps B B inwardly coated with some substance resisting theaction of the electrolyte. A rod shaped anode C covered by a tubulardiaphragm K passes through cap B. The electrolyte is pressed through aninlet D into the tube A and leaves it through an outlet E. Oxygen forcedin through a flanged socket F pr0- vided with a suitable nozzle is madeto rise in the liquid in minute bubbles. The elec trolyte and the oxygenare then conducted through the tube G into a second apparatus of thesame type, a'nd so on. It is, however. quite feasible to cause theelectrolyte to circulate within a single apparatus, the tube G beingthen connected both to the outi to the compressor, while the solution ofhydrogen peroxid may be either removed or else be passed through thebattery of apparatus once more in order to increase the concentration. I

I claim:

1. In electrolytic apparatus for making hydrogen peroxid, incombination, a metallic vessel adapted to withstand high pressure, alayer of suitable cathode material on the inner surface of said vessel,an anode within said vessel and a diaphragm surrounding the anode.

2. In electrolytic hydro en peroxid, in combination a meta tube c osedat both ends and adapted to withstand high pressure, a layer of suitablecathode material on the inner surface of said tube, an anode arranged inthe middle axis of said tube and a tubular diaphragm surrounding theanode.

3. In electrolytic apparatus for makin hydrogen peroxid, in combinationa metafi tube closed at both ends and adapted to withapparatus for makinstand 'high pressure, a layer of suitable cathode material on the innersurface of said tube, an anode arranged in the middle axis of saidtube,.a tubular diaphra surrounding the anode and a water jac etsurrounding said tube.

4. In electrolytic apparatus for making hydrogen peroxid, incombination, a metal tube adapted to withstand high pressure, screw-ca son the ends of said tube, a layer of suita le cathode material on theinner surface of said tube, an anode passing through one of saidscrew-caps and extendin the middle axis of said tube, a

along tubular iaphragm surrounding the anode,

a li uid inlet and a gas inlet in one and a liquid outlet in the otherscrew-cap and a water jacket surrounding said tube.

5. In electrolytic apparatus for making hydrogen peroxid, a plurality ofmetallic vessels adapted to Withstandhigh pressure, coated inwardly withcathode material, surrounding an anode covered with a tubular diaphra m,each vessel provided with liquid and gas inlets and outlets and tubesconnecting the liquid outlet of a vessel with the li uid inlet ofanother vessel.

n testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HELEN NUFER, CLARIoE EAGER.

